There are other ways to ask this question.
- Is HND in Nursing the same as BSC in Nursing or a Degree?
- Is BSC in Nursing better than HND in Nursing and vice versa?
- Which is better - HND in Nursing and BSC in Nursing?
- Which is more recognized for jobs, career progression, and traveling abroad between BSC in Nursing and HND in Nursing?
Well, let's stop here.
As a matter of fact, the primary basis for all these variances of question is that HND should be equivalent to BSC.
But is that true, both at home and abroad? This and related questions will be answered in this post.
BSC Might Be Better Than HND in Nursing
Generally, against anything you might have read, in reality, BSC is always more recognized than HND. I'd thought this was peculiar to Nigeria until I researched other advanced countries.
In the United States, the HND is not a widely recognized qualification. The US system primarily follows the Bachelor's degree (BSc/BA) model, which typically requires four years of study. HND qualifications from other countries may not be directly comparable to US degrees, and they may not be recognized by employers or educational institutions as equivalent.
Similarly, in Canada, the HND is not considered equivalent to a Bachelor's degree. Canadian universities typically award Bachelor's degrees, and HND qualifications may not be recognized as equivalent.
The United Kingdom is one of the countries where the HND is most recognized and considered comparable to the first two years of a Bachelor's degree. HND qualifications are awarded by vocational and further education institutions. Students with an HND can often progress to the final year of a Bachelor's degree program in a related field at a university.
So also in Nigeria, the order of the day should be like that of the United Kingdom. We usually follow their systems. But experience has shown that it's just a promise on paper for most professions and fields.
An unending argument has long been ensured among Nigerian youth about these naked lies. We're all aware by now that HND holders, in almost all fields, are not being given the same entry and promotional recognition as their BSC counterparts.
Recommended: Do Colleges of Nursing Give BSC (Degree)?
HND in Nursing May Not Suffer The Same Fate
In case you're not aware, HND in Nursing is still at its cradle. It was recently introduced by some colleges of Nursing to bridge the discrepancies between BSN holders and Registered Nurses and midwives.
Hence, it may be too early to conclude that it won't be treated equivalently to BSC in Nursing.
One of the bodies well recognized for their moderation and control of its members and employing public is the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). It's expected of this council to take charge of the HND in Nursing and standardized its acceptability both at home and abroad without any discrepancy.
With experience in the health sector and the control of the council, I won't be surprised if the HND in Nursing is adequately treated as equivalent to a Degree in Nursing as it should have been with other professions.
Recommended: Is HND Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree (BSC) in Nigeria?
Foreign Use of HND in Nursing Might Still Be Limited
The HND in Nursing provides comprehensive training and education in nursing, preparing students to work as registered nurses. Upon completing the HND, graduates can apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and work as qualified nurses.
Equivalencies and recognition of qualifications can vary between universities, employers, and professional bodies within each country.
It is recommended to directly contact the specific institutions or organizations in the country of interest to determine their recognition policies for HND qualifications.
In my post, "Acceptable Nursing Abroad: Degree, HND, or Basic?", I'd concluded that with any other qualification in Nursing, even with BSC, you might still be subjected to a top-up degree (HND to BSC conversion course), or further assessment tests before you can be recognized by certain counties depending on their policies.
For a country that already also run HND in Nursing (e.g. UK), you might not experience any discrimination. In the United Kingdom, the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nursing is considered equivalent to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Nursing or any other field.
Recommended: Do Universities Accept RM For Direct Entry Nursing?
Conclusion
If you're already running an ND/HND in Nursing, there is no need to worry as your certificate, as of now, is equivalent to BSN.
Your notion or relation with HND of other fields shouldn't be transferred to Nursing as this profession is well controlled and standardized by the NMCN.
If you must use your certificate abroad, you won't be discriminated against, in any way, as long as you can top it up if the policy there requires that. In fact, in some countries, it won't matter whether you're a BSC or HND holder, a top-up course or certain assessment test is a requirement before being employed or admitted.
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